Stock feeding and handling apparatus for rolling mills



Oct. 11; 1938.

J. R. GEORGE STOCK FEEDING AND HANDLING APPARATUS FOR ROLLING M ILLS Filed Oct. 21, 1936 v s Sheets-She et 1 if 2 .5) 1w F I'LLS Oct. 11, 1938.

Filed Oct. 21, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 11, 1938. A E E 2,133,090

STOCK FEEDING AND HANDLING APPARATUS FOR ROLLING M Filed Oct. 21, 1936 ILLS :s Sheets-Sheet 3 drrzgy Patented Oct. 11, 1938 s'rock FEEDINGJ'AND HANDLING APPARA- .lerome It. Gecrge, Marion,

'rus ron'aomme MILLS Y i Application 'OctoberZl, 1936, Serial Nm-l 6,846 r 1 1 wa 1w! wer Thepresent invention'relatesto rolling mills, particularly to two-high mills wherein the stock, by successive passes betweenthe two cooperating rolls of the mill is reduced to thin sheet or strip Heretofore, in sheet or strip rolling in such two-high mills, hand labor was depended upon, almost entirely, to procurethe successive presentat-ions of the stock, either in single pieces o'r 'in 10 packs of partially reduced sheets, -to the rolls, a large crew of men being required at the delivery Side' of the mill to seize the stock uponits emer:

gence from the rolls and tomanipulate it around to the receiving side of the mill ioreach subse.-,

15 quent pass of same between the rolls. Attempts have been made-to substitute ma chinery for hand labor to obtain these necessary repeated manipulations of the stockin two high sheet or strip rolling, but to a largeextent 1 such machinery has proven" too complicated and respectively at the entrance side and the'delivery side of the mill; are so operated asto handle two 35 pieces or packs of pieces simultaneously; that is to say, while one pieceor pack is'being passed through and between the rolls, another piece or pack is moving back over the rolls into a position to follow the first-named piece or packthrough' 40 said rolls in quick succession. My invention'provides for such operation by handling mechanism which is relatively simple in constructionland rapid and sure in operation; other and further objects and advantages'ofthe invention will be 45 made apparent by the followingdetailed description thereof, reference being had in this connection to the accompanying drawings, in which-'- ;Fig; -1 is a schematic view', illus trating inside elevation, a-two-high' sheet' or strip mill, .pro-c 50 vided on each side with manipulating apparatus in accordance'with'my'inventiom Y j Fig. 2is an end elevational view'ot the apparatus shown at the right side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view on an. enlarged scale/of 55 suchapparatusr Fig. 44s a large scale fragmentary view, in end elevation, illustrating the driving devices and con-- 7 nections 'for' the stock-handling tables.

Fig-: isa detached sid'e'view'of a certain'cam. Like referencecharacters refer to like parts in the different figures.-- i

, Referring first to Figs. 1'and'2, a two-high mill for sheetor strip rolling is indicated conventionally by the' cooperating'upper and lower rolls l and 2 respectively, both suitably journalled in the 10 sides 3, 3 of a housing 4." Themill-provides the usual scr'ew-down"de'vices', 5 for the upper roll I, these deVicesQaIter each reduction effected on the.stock by its passage between the rolls, being operatedpin the usual'way to diminish the 'spacingbetween said rolls so as to get a further reduction of the'stock on- -itsnext pass through the rolls, and so on-'until -the stock has'been rolled down to the desired-thinness. T

With-the rolls il 11 and larranged to be driven continuously iby any suitable means, not shown,

in the directions shown by the arrows thereon, the passage of the stock between said rollsis from left to right, Fig. l, the stock, according to my'invention, being fed each time to the reducing pass from the mechanical handling apparatus marked A on the'left-hand side of the mill, and after each reduction being received by similar handling apparatus marked B on the right hand side of the mill; as hereinafter described, the stock, I after each'reducing pass made thereon, is returned from apparatus B to: apparatus A, this return movement from right to'left, as to one partiallyreduced piece'or pack of pieces, occurring while another'similar' piece or'pack of pieces is moving in the opposite direction from left to right between'the r011s.- r V shown in the drawings, the devices A and B are substantially identical in construction, each consisting ofa structure which, by its step-by- 40 step-"rotation about a horizontal axis offset from the mil1 and at right angles to the 'roll' axes, is adapted to disp'ose, bothat the reducing pass level and 'at the levelon'whichithe stock makes its aforesaid return movement, a succession of stock- 4 receiving tables or conveyors, each a part of said rotary structureand occupying amore or less radial relation toits axis of rotation. In each such structure, a suitably journalled horizontal sliaftl6, ofiset asiaforesaidfrom. theline of stock travel, has secured near its opposite ends the companionxhu'b members 131', each of the latter providing in equidistant relation about its periphery, the pairs .01 radial ears 8, 8, there being showng'in' the present instance, on each hub member six pairs of said ears 8, 8, corresponding to the six stock-receiving tables or conveyors used in each of the devices A and B.

The two hub members 1, I carry between them all six of the stock-receiving tables 9, 9,, each of the latter having an elongated frame portion Ill, provided at opposite ends with arms, I I' that are received between and pivotally connected to matching pairs of; ears 8, 8 of hub members I, E. Each table 9 consists, as shown, of a pair of endless conveyor chains'IZ, I2, running over suitable idler sprockets l3, l3 at the inner end of the frame portion over driving sprockets 14, I 4 at the other end, the latter being secured to journalled in the frame I end a bevel gear I6. The gear 16 is in mesh with and is adapted to be drivenjffrom abevel pinion H which is carried by a shaft l8, whose axis coincides with the pivotal axis on which arm 1 I of the table frame is connected to the ears 8,8 of hub portion- 7"; in this way, each table 9 is permitted to havepivotalmovement relative to the supporting hub portions 1, .1 without interfering in any Way with actuation of its conveyor chains 12, I2 by theassociated driving shaft IS. The drive-of shaft IS, in the case of each table, is through spur gearing I9, 20 from the'shaft of a reversible electric'motor 2|, all

six of said motors (one for each of the tables 9, 9)'

being suitably supported between the hub portions 1 and 7' of the rotary structure, (Fig. 4) The shaft 6 of each rotary structure A, B is connected through suitable reductiongearing 22 to its own individual driving motor 23, the two" motors 23being so operated, through any suitable control devices, not herein shown, but well known in the art, as to cause step-by-step rotation of their respective rotary structures Aand B. Thestrncture B has its intermittent rotation in the direction of the arrow 1), Figs. 1 and 2, a complete revolution of such structure occurring, for the apparatus as shown, in six equal steps, with suitable periodsof dwell between such steps. The other structure A is similarly rotated step- .by-step from its motor- 23 in the opposite directionfrom' arrow 1;, 'i."e., in the direction shown by arrow a; in Figs. and2, the' result being that each table, 9 of apparatusA will approach its operative position ,inthe plane of the reducing pass by a downward "movement, whereas each table 9 of apparatus B will ative position in the .plane of the; reducing pass by an upward movement. V

As best'shown in Fig. 2, the frame portion I0 of each table 9 has an extension 24 at the end wardly toward and through 2 the. planes of of which is suitably journalled a roller 25; preferably, there are two such roller-equipped ex- .tensions for'each table, one at either end of said tables-elongated frameportion l0, as shown in Fig. 5. All six of the rollers 25 at each endof the tables are adapted to run on. a cam track 26 provided by a stationary member 21. at each end of therapparatus A and at each-end of the apparatus B. For the apparatus B, each cam track 2B,.as shown in Fig. 2, may be substan tially concentric with the associated shaft 6, except for that portion thereof which controls the angular positions-of the tablesas they move upthe re'ducing pass and of thestocks return movement at .this' portion, the. cam ftrack 26; is of the irregular form indicated 'at 28, the purpose 'of said form being to shift the tables about their pivotal connections to the hub members 1' l0, and running a shaft 55, suitably and carrying on one approach its opera so as to dispose said tables in each of the two planes above mentioned substantially horizontal, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The stationary cam tracks 26, 26 for the apparatus A which rotates in the opposite direction to the apparatus B, are of the same formbut in the reverse relation, as

1 shown in Fig. 5, in order to provide for substantially horizontal disposition of the downwardly moving tables 9, 9 of apparatus A as said tables approach and pass through the planes or the 'st'ccks return movement and of the reducing pass. I 7 Each of the tables 9, 9 of the stock-feeding apparatus A is preferably equipped with adjustable side guards 29, 29 alongside the conveyor chains l2, I2, each of said side guards being carried by a pair of parallel-motion rocker arms .30, 30 which are operable by a single lever 3| to move the side guards toward each other or away chains 32, 32, and similar chains 33, 33, running in the same direction, are preferably provided on the delivery side of the mill housing in the 7 plane of the pass, Also, saidmill housing in the plane of the stocks return movement is equipped with pairs of conveyor chains 34, the latter running in the opposite direction from the chains 32 and33. I The ability of 'the'apparatus, as. above described, to .handle two pieces or packs of pieces at a time,and to obtain repeatedreductions of same'by passage in quick succession from left to right between the rolls l and 2, is best shown by the diagram, Fig. 1, wherein, let it be assumed, that the stock marked 0, aftera single passage between the rolls, has run out onto thehorizontally disposed table 9 of apparatus B; this paricular table, by' the ensuing rotative movement of apparatus B, has been carried upwardly to the level of the conveyor chains 34, and at the same time, other stock marked d, as yet unreduced, has been delivered from the heating furnace onto that table .9' 'of apparatus Awhich is then positioned horizontally in the plane of the reducing pass. During the dwell of the two, devices A and E- in the positions illustrated, the associated electrical control devices, not shown-for the several motors 2|, 2| areautomaticaily renderedoperative to produce actuation'of the two driving motors for'said tables 93 and 9 the former, by its motor, is run in a direction to feed the stock d into the mill, and the latter, simultaneously, is run in a direction to deliver the stock 0 onto the chains 34, 34. As a result, during this period of dwell of the devices A and B, the stock cis delivered, onto table 9, (whose chains l 2, I2 are at this time driven in the same ning table chains l2, 12 are brought to rest through "the motor controls'above referred to,

thereupon, through the motors 23, 23, the devices A and B are rotated simultaneously throughorie step, thus disposing the tablet (carrying stock 0) at the pass level, and' disposin'g tablell (carrying stock (1) at the level of chains" 34, 1. a,

the-stock return level; 'Inthe dwell of 'the'de-' vices A and B in this'position, the .motor control produces actuation of table 9 for the delivery of stock 0 to the mill and, simultaneously, the

actuation of table' S for the return'movement the heating furnace, and are manipulatedback f and forth between devices A and B in, the same manner as above described to obtain successive reductions of said stock by the mill.

It is to be noted that in the above-described.

manipulation of the stock by. the apparatus of my invention, the movements of all the stocksupporting tables are uniform in direction, there being no necessity at any time for producing a reverse or return movement of any such stockmanipulating device. This contributes mate rially to smoothness of operation and long life of the apparatus. Furthermoreby thep fovision of both the feeding tables and the receiving tables in multiple, for successive presentations to the working positions, there is only a 7 minimum period of exposure of each table to the heat of the stock; in this way, the apparatus avoids any possibility of warping or otherwise damaging the stock-manipulating devices through overheating.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for repeatedly passing piecesor packs of pieces through a sheet or strip mill,

comprising in combination with the mill rolls,

a set of stock receiving and feeding tables 'on both sides of said rolls, mountings for each set which maintain the tables thereof substantially horizontal in their operative positions, means for imparting in unison to the tables of one set a succession of step-by-step movements that dispose each table successively at the pass level and thereafter on'the next step at a higher or stockreturn level, and means for imparting in unison to the tables of the other set a succession of step-by-step movementsthat dispose each table successively at said higher or stock-return level and thereafter on the next step at saidpass level. 2. Apparatus for repeatedly passing pieces" or packs of pieces through a sheet or strip mill, comprising in combination with the mill'rolls, a set of stock receiving and feeding tables on both sidesof said rolls, a rotary support for each set of tables, each support having its axis of rotation substantially parallel to butlaterally offset from the longitudinal center line of the mill, and

means for imparting step-b-y-step rotations, substantially in unison'to both supports, one in a direction to elevate each of its tablesin succession from the pass level to a higher or stock-' return level, and the other in a direction to lower 'each of its tables in succession from said higher level to the pass level. 7 H

3. Apparatus for repeatedly passing pieces or packs of pieces through a sheet or' strip mill,

comprising in combination with the mill rolls, a

s'etlof stock receiving andfeeding tables on both sides of saidirolls; means for imparting 'to the tables. ofone set a step-.by-s'tep movement .in a substantiallyicircular path that carries each table with out end-to-end reversal thereof successively into roll 'passiregistry position and then" into stock-return level positiomand means for imparting to the tables of the other set a step-by step movement in a substantially .circular path that carries each' table without end-to-end reversal thereof successively into stock-return level position and then into roll pass registry position.

4. 'Apparat'usi for repeatedly passing pieces or packs-of pieces ,throughfasheet or strip mill,

comprising in combination with the mill rolls, a

set of stockreceivingand feeding tables on'both sides of said rollsymeans for imparting i to the .-tables ofone set a step-by-step movement in a substantially circular path that carries each table .in successive steps into roll pass registry position and then into stock-return level position, means'for impartingto the tables of the other set a step-by-step movement in a substantially circular path that carries each table in'succes'sive steps into stock-return level position and then into; roll pass registry position,- and means for holding said tables substantially level in their movements betweensaid two positions.

' 5 Apparatus for repeatedly passing pieces or packs of piecesthrough' a sheet or strip mill,

comprising in combination withthe mill rolls,

both sides of said rolls,means for. moving each set of tablesin a substantially circular path about an axis parallel to but laterally offset from the longitudinal center line of the mill, whereby each table travels frompass level to stock-return level 'or vice'versawithout reversing the stock supported thereby.

' 6. Apparatus for repeatedly passing pieces or packs of pieces through a sheet or strip mill,

comprisingin combination with the mill rolls, asetof stock receivingand feeding tables on both sides of said rolls, means for moving each table, step-by-step in a' substantially circular -,-path, about an axis parallel to but offset laterally from the longitudinal center line of the mill, each table of one set, in successive steps of its movement, arriving insubstantial registry with the i011 pass and then at a higher or stock-return position, and each table of the other ,set, in successive steps of its movement, arriving at said higher or stock-return position and then in substantial registry with the roll pass.

i 7. Apparatus for repeatedly passing pieces 0 packs of pieces through a sheet orstrip mill, comprising in combination with the mill rolls,

a set of stock receiving and feeding tables on both a set of stock receiving and feeding tables on sides'of said rolls, means for moving each table,

step-by-step in a substantially circular path, about an axis parallel to but offset laterally from the longitudinal center line of the mill, each table of one set, in successive steps of its move-' ment, arriving in substantial registry with the roll pass and then at Ya higher or stock-return position, and each table of the other set, insuccessive steps of its movement, arriving at said higher or stock-return position and then in substantial registry with the roll pass, and means for coordinating the movements of the tables of the-two sets. 7 a

8. Apparatus for repeatedly passing pieces or packs of pieces through a sheet or strip mill, comprising in combination with the mill rolls, a

set of stock receiving and feeding tables on both a sides of said rolls; means for moving each table, step-by-step in: a substantiallycircular path, about an axis parallel to but ofiset laterally from the longitudinal center line of the mill, each table of one set, in successive steps of its move- I ment, arriving in substantial registry with the roll pass and then at a higheror stock-return position, and each table of theother set, in'successive steps of'its movement,'arriving at said higher or stock-return, position andthen in substantial registry with the rollpass, and means 'for; maintaining said tables substantially level in their movements between said two positions.

- 9. Apparatus forrepeatedly'passing pieces or packs of pieces through a sheet or strip mill, comprising in combination with the millrolls, a set of stock receiving and feeding tables on both sides'of said rolls, means for moving each table,

stepby-step in a substantially circular path, about an axis parallel to but ofiset laterally from the longitudinal center line of the mill, each table of one set, in'successive steps of its movement, arriving in substantial registry with the roll pass and then at a higher or stock-return position, and" each table of the other set, insuccessive steps of its movement, arriving at said 

